True Wisdom: A Basis for Unity. The Holy Spirit as Teacher. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Transcription

1 1 True Wisdom: A Basis for Unity The Holy Spirit as Teacher 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

2 2 True Wisdom: A Basis for unity The Holy Spirit as Teacher Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, 1. When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit s power, 5. so that your faith might not rest on men s wisdom, but on God s power. 6. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7. No, we speak of God s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9. However, as it is written: No eye has seen, or ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him 10. but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11. For who among men knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12. We have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

3 3 13. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man s judgment: 16. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Introduction: I. Popular personalities are able to attract large followings. A. Through their charisma and persuasive speech, certain preachers, politicians and others are able to convince many people to accept their ideas. B. Often these ideas have little merit and these teachings often dissipate as soon as the charismatic leaders are no longer on the public stage. C. Paul knew that this is not what God intended for his church. D. Paul did everything he could to present the Gospel in its own power. E. Paul was an eloquent man. Readers of 1 Corinthians 13 can have no doubt of this! F. Paul did not want people to be moved by eloquence along. He wanted people to be moved by the Gospel, Jesus Christ and him crucified, not by the eloquence of the speaker.

4 4 G. 1 Corinthians 2:2, For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Commentary: 1 Corinthians 2:1, When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I. The power/glory of the Gospel is in its content, not in its method of presentation. A. The pretentious Greek philosophers who eloquently spoke were con men practicing sophistry. B. Contrary to this proclaiming of the wisdom of men, Paul preached the saving gospel of God! II. Paul had been well educated in Tarsus and at the feet of Gamaliel. A. Acts 22:3, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. B. Paul was a highly educated man able to quote Aiatus, Epimenides and Menander. 1. Acts 17:28, For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring. 2. Titus 1:12, Even one of their own prophets has said, Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.

5 Corinthians 15:33, Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. C. Paul counted all such learning as dross when compared with the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 2:2, For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I. The single minded focus of Paul was Jesus Christ and him crucified. A. Paul had the ultimate tunnel vision. B. The salvation of lost souls through the preaching of the Gospel was Paul s single minded work! 1 Corinthians 2:3, I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. I. During his 18 month ministry at Corinth Paul presented with weakness, fear and much trembling. II. This verse has been rendered, It was with much anxiety and selfdistrust that I preached the gospel to you. III. This shows Paul s concern for the souls of all mankind. IV. The power is in the message, not in the messenger! 1 Corinthians 2:4, My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit s power, I. Paul demonstrated the power of the Gospel by miracles performed through the Holy Spirit.

6 6 II. Paul did not base his appeal on empty words eloquently spoken! 1 Corinthians 2:5, so that your faith might not rest on men s wisdom, but on God s power. I. Our faith is based on the power of God, not on human wisdom. II. Paul rejected pseudo-wisdom. III. The answer to the sophist s claim that the Gospel is foolish is the power, efficacy of the Gospel. A. Think of the good the gospel has done in the world! 1 Corinthians 2:6, We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. I. All Christians begin as babes who are to grow to mature fullgrown strength and maturity. A. 1 Corinthians 3:1, Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly mere infants in Christ. B. Ephesians 4:13, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. II. Paul preached/spoke with true wisdom to mature Christians to promote their understanding of God s will. III. Those who rule the world are coming to nothing. A. Jerusalem came to an end/naught.

7 7 B. Rome came to an end/naught. C. Nazi Germany came to an end/naught. D. Jeremiah 10:23, I know, O Lord, that a man s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. IV. Man s knowledge cannot redeem the human race. 1 Corinthians 2:7, No, we speak of God s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. I. Paul spoke God s wisdom (the Gospel) in figurative language, in the form of a mystery. A. A mystery is a puzzle, something not previously revealed but, in the case of the Gospel, now understandable. B. The Christian Gospel is incomparable to any other mystery, especially the Greek mysteries popular in Paul s day. II. The New Testament refers to a number of mysteries. A. Church. Ephesians 5:32, This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church. B. Lawlessness. 2 Thessalonians 2:7, For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. C. Seven stars and candlesticks. Revelation 1:20, The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the

8 8 seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. D. Resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:51, Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed... E. Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 13:11, He replied, The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. III. The mystery of which Paul spoke is mentioned in a number of Scriptures. A. 1 Timothy 3:16, Beyond all question, the mystery of Godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. B. Romans 16:25, Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past... C. Ephesians 1:9, And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ... D. Ephesians 3:4, In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ... E. Colossians 2:3, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge... F. 1 Timothy 3:9, They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

9 9 G. God foreordained this Gospel mystery before the world began for our salvation. a. God knew mankind would need salvation before Adam was ever created. b. This Gospel mystery is for our salvation, eternal glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8, None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I. Essential elements of this mystery is the incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension of God s Son. A. Jesus prayed from the cross that God would forgive his crucifiers because they knew not what they were doing. B. They knew an innocent man was being crucified. They did not realize that in him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. II. Christ is the Lord (God) of glory. A. Colossians 2:9, For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. B. Matthew 21:38, But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, This is the heir. Come, let s kill him and take his inheritance. C. Ephesians 1:17, I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. D. 1 Peter 4:14, If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

10 10 E. Psalm 29:3, The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. F. Acts 7:2, To this he replied: Brothers and father, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 1 Corinthians 2:9, However, as it is written: No eye has seen, or ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him I. What God has done for the saved in this world and what he has in store for us in the world to come is absolutely astounding. II. Scriptures: A. Isaiah 64:4, Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. B. Isaiah 65:17, Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 1 Corinthians 2:10, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. I. God revealed to the Apostles the mystery of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit who has made a search and knows the most secret and profound things about God pertaining to the salvation of the world through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 2:11, For who among men knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

11 11 I. A person s spirit knows the person and can reveal him. II. God s spirit knows God and can reveal him. III. To the extent the Holy Spirit reveals God we are enabled to know God. 1 Corinthians 2:12,We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. I. The Apostles were given the Holy Spirit so they would know the mystery of the Gospel. II. Paul did not share the satanic secular materialistic worldly thinking of unregenerate mankind. 1 Corinthians 2:13, This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. I. Paul spoke what the Holy Spirit revealed to him. A. The Apostles spoke as they were guided by the Holy Spirit. B. Paul did not speak as the wisdom of the world dictated, but as the Holy Spirit guided him. C. The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the words they were to speak. *2 Timothy 1:13, What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

12 12 1 Corinthians 2:14, The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. I. The natural/physical man does not accept the things of God which he regards as foolishness. A. Sinful man is his worldly orientation is alienated from God. B. When sinful man becomes receptive to the Gospel he then is able to recognize the wisdom of the Gospel and its power to save. II. None of the brilliant orators of Greece had the slightest knowledge of the wisdom of God and regarded the Gospel as foolishness. 1 Corinthians 2:15, The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man s judgment: I. He that is spiritual judgeth all things. A. Paul, who was guided by the Holy Spirit, was to judge the Corinthians in regard to their departure from apostolic teachings. B. The errant Corinthians were not in a position to judge Paul about anything. II. We are to discern between truth and error, right and wrong. A. 1 John 4:1, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

13 13 B. Acts 17:11, Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 1 Corinthians 2:16, For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. I. Instructing God is not an option for anyone A. Isaiah 40:13, Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? B. The inspired Apostles knew the mind of God. The uninspired did not! II. We must have the mind of Christ. A. Philippians 2:5, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. B. We can know the mind of Christ by listening to the inspired preaching of Paul and other Apostles of Christ.

14 14 Questions 1 Corinthians 2: did not want people to be moved by alone. He wanted people to be moved by the, and him. 2. The glory of the is in its, not in its method of. 3. The who spoke were practicing. 4. How well educated was Paul? Be specific. 5. Paul had a single minded focus. What was that focus? 6. How did Paul regard his education? Did it help him in his preaching of the gospel?

15 15 7. Paul came to Corinth in and and with much, with much and Paul spoke a message of wisdom. What was this message and to whom did he speak it? 9. Man s cannot the! Paul spoke God s in, in the form of a. 10. Why did Paul do this? 11. Name several mysteries mentioned in the Scriptures. 12. God this before the began for our,. 13. What are essential elements of the mystery Paul preached?

16 Describe what God has prepared for those who love him. 15. God revealed to the the of the through the who has made a and knows the most and things about God pertaining to the of the through the. 16. Who knows the thoughts of God? We have not received the of the but the who is from that we may what God has us. 17. Describe the way in which the Holy Spirit guided the apostles. 18. Compare, contrast the persons with and without the Holy Spirit. 19. How are we to discern between truth and error, right and wrong?

17 Who has the mind of Christ? Give thought to your answer.